Bread loaf fractionating apparatus



Oct. 11, 1949. sw 2,484,222

BREAD LOAF FRACTIONATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1-" ma-mmi i llll l'lllvll :rm' 22 m. A INVENTOR. 11 JOHN P. HAUSWAL Hi5 ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1949. J. P. HAUSWALD BREAD LOAF FRACTIONATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1947 H\5 AT ORNEY Oct. 11, 1949. J. P. HAUSWALD I 2,484,222

BREAD LOAF FRACTIONATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1947 3 SheetsSheet 3 H M ("3 g m E I d E U E a m N i JNVENTOR.

M JOHN P. HAUSWALD H l s ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNlTED'STATES PATENT OFFICE BREAD LOAF FRACTIONATING APPARATUS John P. Hauswald, Baltimore, Md. Application November 5, 1947, Serial No. 784,238

This invention relates to fractionating apparatus, and more especially to a machine for separating bread into fractions which are of appropriate size to be wrapped or packaged.

An object of my invention is the provision of simple, efiicient and reliable apparatus for fractionating bread-loaves into separate and distinct portions, each portion forexample comprising a plurality of slices each made to a thickness suited for table use. I

A further object of my invention is the provision of a simple and thoroughly practical breadloaf fractionating machine which positively separates the loaves with minimum detriment to the bread being handled.

A still further object of my invention is that of providing apparatus of the character indicated, which is rapid and continuous in operation for receiving the loaves and delivering the fractions.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the combination of elements, features of construction, and in the several operational steps and the relation of each of the same to one or more of the others as described herein, the scope of the application of which is indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, and illustrating an embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a sliced loaf fractionating machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine taken approximately along the line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the machine, taken approximately along the line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 respectively represent front i and rear views of one of the loaf fractionating pusher rods of the machine; and

Figure 6 is an underneath view of the rod.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of my invention, it may be noted at this point that bread-loaf fractionating machines have recently come into demand for dividing bakery loaves into parts which may be separately wrapped and sold as relatively small units pointing to thrift and freshness. entire loaves coming from a bakery oven often are subjected to slicing to useful table thicknesses; then the machine separates the loaf into two distinct halves for individual wrapping and sale. At times, the slicing operation amounts In practice, the

I 3 Claims. (01. 198-30) other or others which accordingly remain moist and fresh.

In a somewhat different sense, breadfractionating equipment has come into widespread demand for separating loaves of bread into portions which subsequently are individually abutted to a different grade of fractionated bread for unitary wrapping. The different fractions accordingly provide a variety of breads in reasonable quantity to the consumer, and thus avoid waste.

A number of bread fractionating machines in the prior art operate in accordance with the conveyer principle. For example, a loaf of bread is taken from a slicing component of one of these machines by a fractionating conveyer. which pushes the bread broadside against a pointed, fixed fractionating element. This fractionating element increases in effective width along the path of travel of the conveyer so as to promote a gradual separation of the loaf in the sense of producing a wedging action. While many of these prior art machines fundamentally have highly desirable features, the bread, in being urged past the fixed fractionating component, often crushes severely or gets caught against the pusher element and accordingly is ruined. If the bread being conveyed has already been sliced, the individual slices frequently suffer to the point of ruin by scraping, wadding or breaking off next to the pusher. The same to some extent holds true where the fractions being conveyed are in the unsliced condition.

An outstanding object of my invention accordingly is the provision of simple, durable and reliable fractionating apparatus which is well suited for positively separating and conveying bread or the like without appreciable injury to the food product.

Referring now more particularly to the practice of my invention, I provide bakery product fractionating apparatus which in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing is represented in general by the reference numeral ID. This apparatus includes a transfer conveyer table I I which for example has a plane the rearward end of the conveyer table, while sprockets l have a supporting shaft journaled in the frame beneath the outer or 'advanced end of the conveyer table. As arranged, the pusher bars |8 are suited for coming up at the rearward end of the transfer conveyer table and for traveling along the top of this table to advanced end thereof where they pass beneath the tableuntil again reaching the rearward end.

The rods I8 are laterally disposed with relation to the transfer table, and individually include connector means such as a main bar portion interconnecting the chains 13, this (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6) illustratively being in the form of an inverted elongated channel 4| having two flanges Ma and an integral top 4|b. At mid-length and for a substantial distance from either side of this point, the two flanges are relieved, as for example at relieved zone 4 I 0 shown in Figure 5.

There are longitudinal raceways or slots 4|d in each flange 4|a, one on each side of the relieved zone .just referred to. The slots extend well toward the respective outer ends of the channel and are substantially coincident in directly opposite pairs, flange behind'flange. The directly opposite pairs of slots accommodate paired pins 44 which bridge the flanges 4|a. of the inverted channel and holdslidable facing means such as the plates 45 next to the outside surface of one of the flanges. The opposite ends of the pins receive suitable washers 46 land are upset so that the plates 45 are held to the channel for retention in and guidance by the corresponding slots'4|d.' l Inside the'iriverted fchannel and underneath the top 4|b thereof is'a hook or post 41, this for receiving adjacent ends of two springs. 48; The outer ends ofthese springs load, the respective plates 45 as by hooking around pins 44." As an alternative, a singles'pring may be hooked to pins 44 on opposite sidesof the cut-away zone 4 let for loading the plates In'v either eventthe spring means tends to. draw the plates .45 toward each other and preferably to a slightly separated'edge to edge relation" as represented by the intermediate gap 50 in Figure 4, this being limited by pins 44 abutting the innermost ends of the slots 4|d. Where force is exerted between the plates in a manner to be-more fully, explained hereinafter, they separate while still loaded by the spring means and thus slide under guidance of the'pins toward'the outer limits of the slots.

Where intended for, use with link chains- |3, as preferred, the. channel 4| includes at the respective ends' thereof, link chain portions |3a which are directly connected intothechains to form a link. The portions J36. advantageously are fastened to the. channel ends by pivotal connections 49 so as to allow flxibility of movement. Substantially symmetrical with the longitudinal center line of transfer conveyer table and on the top surface .(see ,Fig; 1). is a pusher bar separator uide forac i aonpthe flanges 45 of th se bars. This guide illustratively comprises two rails 5| which merge into a point 5|a, this point being sufilciently narrow to pass between gap 50 between flanges 45. Measuring from the back of the table where the pusher bars |8 come up, the point 5|a illustratively begins at a distance forward along the table surface approximately equal to the spacing between an adjacent two of these bars. On beyond the point 5|a the rails 5| gradually diverge so as to provide a wedge or fro terminating at the advanced end of the table II with the rails spaced apart, for example by an amount substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent conveyer pockets 23a which will be more fully referred to hereinafter.

To facilitate adjustment of the pusher bar separator guide, should the feature of adjustment be desired, thepoint 5|a illustratively is fast to the table H as by means of a rivet, while the rails 5| are held adjustably separate by slide joint 39 therebetween. The slide joint includes a threaded pin 39a standing in fixed upright position from the transfer table top. Two elements 3% reaching" in opposite directions and having elongated slots receiving the "pin 39a, are correspondingly secured, as by welding, to the rails 5|. The free ends of the slotted elements are adjustably secured by a wingnut 39c or the like threaded on the pin, thus" maintaining 'adesired spacin of the rails. i I

My bread-loaf fractionating apparatus preferably includesa delivery plate or grate 20 suited for guiding several loaves to thepusher bars l8,

' conveniently froma suitable loaf-slicing'machine 2| such as a conventionalhigh speed reciprocating slicer (not shown) The grate or guide plate 20 forms a short gap 22jwithrthe rearward end of the transferconveyer table for facilitating clearance and unimpeded operation by the pusher bars|8.'

At the advanced endof the transfer table, I often provide a horizontal, conveyer 23 for taking fractionated br eadloaves away, from the pusher bars, l8. to' 'a suitable wrapping machine or machinesv (not shown). "The. conveyer 23 illustratively has a plurality of pockets 23a which for example are intermittently advanced by suitable means operating in synchronization with the main driveshaft l6. These'pockets accordingly moves each to .receive bread loaf fractions from .the pu shenbars |8 and then to feed the fractions-for-wrapping.

Restrained to positionsssomewhat above the top surface of transfer-table It and the pusher bar separator guide (see Fig. 1) are a plurality of longitudinal guides for bread, outer guides 25 and26 and inner 1oaf-separating guide 21. The lowermost portions of these guides are sufficiently high to ensure underneath-free. passage of the pusher rods 18; the latter usually just clear the table top to engage the rails 5|. The inner loaf-separating guide" 21 is substantially V- shaped having athiriblade-like apex 27a at the rearwardend of the table l and gradually increases in width; substantially to the advanced end of the table/the final' width for example being about the same as'the distance between adjacent conveyer ipock etsffid. The apex portion 21 a illustratively isclosely adjacent to the midloaf slicingiblade of the slicing machine 2! and 'is'in a vjerticalIpositi'on corresponding to this blade so a s to.guide an begin the separation of 'pi'ovide'oppos'it guide portions 21b and 210, each for urging increased separation of the halfloaves. The guide portion 27b illustratively comprises a top rail 27b and a bottom rail 21?)" for minimum fricational effect on the bread. Similarly, the guide portion 210 comprises a top rail 21c and a bottom rail 210". The top and bottom rails of each guide portion are substantially in vertical alignment. The several rails of both portions advantageously are tied together by suitable intermediate members 21d so as to produce a truss from the standpoint of over-all construction of inner loaf-separating guide 21.

Outer guides'25 and 26 illustratively are in the form of channel members, the corresponding surfaces 25:; and 26a, of which are substantially normal to the top surface of transfer conveying table thus to achieve the bread-guiding function. The outer guides begin at points on opposite sides of the apex or narrow portion 21a of the inner loaf-separating guide and are individually spaced at a distance from the latter which space for example is slightly more than half the width of the bread-loaf. Approximately this same spacing between the efiective guiding surfaces of the several bread guides prevails along the length of the transfer table. The outer guides surfaces 25a and 25a accordingly form paths 33 and 34 for bread, each approximately one-half loaf wide, respectively with the portions 211) and 27c of the V-shaped inner loaf-separating guide. Then paths diverge one from the other in accordance with the width of the inner loaf-separating guide and extend from rearward end at apex 21a to forward end of the transfer table.

The relative positions of the guides 25, 25 and 21 and their bottom clearance above the top of transfer table ii are maintained by supports (see Fig. 3). For this purpose a pair of crossrods 30, one laterally across end of the transfer table, are held sufficiently high to clear the fractionated loaves on the table surface by uprights 3| fixed to the frame l2. Adjustable along each cross-bar are two arms 32 hanging down and individually supporting a corresponding one of the outer guides 25 and 26 so that the bottoms of these guides clear the pusher bars I8. The arms 32 include threaded set-screws 32a for engaging the corresponding cross-rod and maintaining a selected width of the several bread paths after desired adjustment of the arms and the outer guides. Usually, the outer guides comprise a plurality of sections for increasing the facility of lateral adjustment, these sections being hinged together by suitable hinges 25b and 251). On the frame l2, and for adding support and ease of adjustment, are lateral slide members 35 and 35 connected to intermediate points along the lengths of the outer guides 25 and 26, such as near to one of the hinges 25b and 2%, respectively. The slide members are available for adjustment by sliding to desired position of the outer guides and by clamping to the frame 2 by the use of sct-screws 35a and 35a.

'A lateral adjustment of the V-shaped inner loaf-separating guide 27 (see Fig. l) conveniently is achieved by means of arms 31 having set-screws 3'la along the advanced cross-rod 30, and by arm 38 having set-screw 33a along the rearward cross-rod 30. Collectively, these arms hold the inner loaf-separating guide a suitable distance above pusher bars l8, and enable lateral adjustment and clamping by the set-screws. The arms 31 reach between the guide portions 21b and 210, near the advanced and of the transfer table. A further adjustment of the inner guide, for varying the separation of the guide portions 211) and No is facilitated by bolts 3112 which lead laterally from the rails 21b, 21b", 21c and 210" through openings in the adjacent arms 3'! and include wing nuts 37c.

As illustrative of the practice of my invention, sliced bread is delivered to the rearward end of the transfer table H for example from the loafslicing machine 2|. The bread is guided in any suitable manner onto'the table, to between the outer bread guides 25 and 26, and separation of the loaf into sliced half-loaves is begun by the blade-like apex 2'la of the inner loaf-separating guide. During this time, and with main drive shaft l6 rotating in' proper direction, under power from a suitable source, chains I3 advance in a continuous path over their sprockets l4 and I5 thus bringing up pusher bars H3 at the rearward end of the conveyer table H. One of the bars I 8 comes up behind the introduced loaf of bread, thus urging the bread forward along the apex 21a. As the bread advances, the distance of separation between the fractionated loaf increases as prompted by the wedging action of opposite guide portions 21b and 210 of the inner loafseparating guide. When this wedging action first begins, or shortly thereafter, the pusher bar l8, while advancing under the bread-loaf separator guide 21, and with pusher plates 45 immediately behind the loaf of bread, strikes point 51a of the pusher bar separator guide. The point 5|a enters gap 58 between the pusher plates 45. Cutaway zone Me of channel 4| clears the rails 5| and is of sufficient width to permit clearance along the entire length of the table. As the bar |8 continues to advance, the rails 5| cause the pusher plates 45 to slide laterally across the transfer table and relative to channel 4|, this sliding movement further being guided by pins 44 and slots Md, and also resisted by springs 18. In moving laterally the pusher plates substantially follow the lateral movement of the fractionated loaf as prompted by the inner loaf-separator guide 2?. The loaf fractions accordingly suifer substantially no relative movement with respect to the pusher plates 45 and substantially no dragging or scraping against the plates. The fractionating action continues until the bread fractions reach an appropriate distance of separation and then are pushed off by the bar I8 such as into corresponding pockets 23a of the wrapping machine conveyer 23. Upon passing beyond the rails 5| at the advanced end of the transfer conveying table,- the pusher plates 45 of the bar l8 return under the action of springs 48 to the position of forming a close gap 50. As the chains I3 continue to move, the bar returns beneath the transfer table to the rearward end, there to come up behind another sliced loaf of bread. The other bars I8 connecting the chains l3 operate in a fashion similar to the single bar described. The various bars illustratively are synchronized with the slicing machine 2| and each pushes a sliced loaf through the fractionating stage and delivers the fractions to corresponding pockets 23a. Conveyer 23, for example is synchronized with the pusher bars I8 and advances two empt pockets 23a. to the fractionated-loaf take-off position. The fractions then are wrapped in any suitable manner, as after advancement to a wrapping machine by the conveyer 23.

Thus it will be seen that in the invention there is provided bread fractionating apparatus where sin-the various-obj (acts 2 heremb'eforeiset forth to ,gether with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. "It willalso .be seen that the fractionating apparatus often includes or is made to'operate-in conjunction with bread'jslicing and wrapping machinery in the rapid production of sliced wrapped fractionated bread .H.

'1 While much emphasis'hasqbeen placed-upon the handling of fractions which individually; comprise pluralityof slices, it will be understood that myfractionating apparatus also iswell suited for separating unsliced halvessevered by asingle cut fromia whole loaf ofbread;

It'will also be understoo'dthat sometimes l proe' video the pusher barseparator guideinan-elevated position above the conveyer table surface andas a {lowermost portion of the VJ-shaped; inner loafseparating guide, instead'of. directly onthe table ashereinbefore described; In this :practice, I connect the pusher bars between the driving chains so that the intermediate gaps between the corresponding pusher plates -are turned up for overhead separation of these plates by'the elevated pusher bar separator guide.

As many possible embodiments maybe made of my invention, and'as many possible changes may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore set forth, it will'be-understood that all matter described herein is to be interpreted as -illustrative and not-as alimitation. r

;I claim: A

. l; Bread-loaf-fractionating apparatus, including table means/adaptedfor supporting a plurality of bread-loaves for "slidingmovement, bread-loaf separator guide means-adjacent to the top. of saidtable meansfand forming diverging paths with the same-for separate fractionspf bread,;and bread pusher means suited for movement along said table means and having relatively movable bread pusher face elements for separation one from another substantially to the diverging course of the bread along thel engths of said paths.

2. Bread-loaf fractionating apparatus including table means adapted forsupporting a plurality of bread loaves for sliding movement, bread-loaf separator guidem'eans comprising a substantially V-shaped inner loaf-separating guide and outer guides forming diverging paths for separate fractions of bread with the table separation one from another substantially to the diverging course-of the bread along the lengths ofthepathsa H i 3. Bread-1oaf fractionating apparatus, including table means adapted for supporting a plurality of bread loaves for sliding movement, bread-loaf separator guide means supported substantially above the top of said table means and forming diverging paths with the same for separate fractions of bread, bread pusher m'eans suited for movement along the top of said table means and beneath... said bread-loaf separator guide means and having relatively movable breadloaf pusher face elements suited for relative movement, and guide means for separating said pusher face elements by an. amount substantially consistent with the diverging course of thebread fractions.

-24::2Bread-loafizfractionating" apparatusyinclude ing table means adapted for supporting aeplu-j V rality of bread loaves for sliding movement;

bread-loaf separator guide means supported subfor separate fractions of bread with the table means; bread pusher means comprising an endless carriage supporting a, plurality of pusher bars for movement between the top of said table means and thebread-loaf separator guide means, each said bar comprising relatively V movable bread-loaf pusher face elements suited for relafive-movement; and guide means for separating said pusher'face elements by an amount substantially consistent with the diverging course of the bread fractions. I

5. Bread-loaf fractionating apparatus, including table means adapted for supporting a plurality of bread loaves for sliding movement; bread-loaf separator guide means supported substantially above. the top of said table means andforming diverging paths with the'same for sepa ratefractions of bread; bread pusher means comprising an endless carriage supporting a plurality of spaced pusher bars for movement between the top of said table means and the bread-loaf separator guide means, each said bar comprising relatively movable bread-loaf pusher face elements spaced apart along the length thereof; and pusher bar separator-guide means longitudinally between said diverging paths, for separating said pusher face elements to the diverging course of the bread. T 1' 6. A bread-loaf pusher bar comprising a main bar portion, two bread-loaf pusher face elements slidably mounted along said main bar portion and having adjacent edges slightly separated from each other, and spring means loading said bread-loaf pusher face elements toward minimum separation of the adjacent edgesand against sliding to further separation.

'7. A bread-loaf pusher bar comprising a main bar portion, two bread-loaf pusher face elements slidably mounted along said main bar portion and having adjacent edges slightly separated from each other, spring means loading said bread-loaf pusher face elements toward minimum separation of the adjacent edges and against sliding to further separation, and link chain components mounted on opposite ends of said main bar portion.

8. A bread-loaf pusher bar comprising a channel-shaped component having opposite flanges with intermediate relieved portions at the re- No references cited. 

